Manager Procurement Category-CA

CN; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 110,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

ESIP

Pension plan

Benefits

Job summary

CN seeks a Manager Procurement Category-CA to own the strategic direction of a defined category supporting CN's rail and logistics operations. You will lead development and execution of category strategies, balancing cost, quality, risk and innovation, while managing cross-functional teams.

The role has signing authority, leads a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists, and collaborates with suppliers to drive performance, governance, and continuous improvement across the category

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy, KPI targets, and spend analysis.
• Oversee demand planning and cross-functional team execution.
• Negotiate high-value contracts and governance across lifecycle.

Job description

Manager Procurement Category-CA

Req Id: 977

Job Location: Montreal - QC

Business Unit: Finance

Highest Level Division: Procurement & Supply Management

Posting Start Date: 9/29/26

Posting End Date: 10-13-2026

French/English Bilingual Requirement: No

Hiring Salary Range: $ 110000 - 144000

This range represents the hiring range. Salaries are determined individually depending on skills and experience. You will also be eligible to an annual bonus, employee share investment program (ESIP), Pension, Benefits and other perks.

At CN, we are committed to our pursuit of excellence. We take pride in delivering work of the highest standard, continually innovating to shape the railroad of the future. As responsible railroaders, we make the right decisions every time, putting safety first, acting with unwavering integrity, and holding ourselves accountable for our actions. We believe in succeeding together - by fostering inclusivity and collaboration, we sustainably deliver exceptional results for our customers.

Join us today and get your career moving!

Job Summary

The incumbent is responsible for owning the strategic direction of a defined category of goods and services that directly support CN's rail and logistics operations. The role leads the development and execution of category management strategies that deliver sustainable value by balancing cost, quality, risk, innovation, and operational needs. The incumbent leads cross-functional teams, manages key supplier relationships, and oversees a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists to drive category performance against business objectives. The role has signing authority and direct accountability for category outcomes that impact CN's bottom line.

Main Responsibilities

Category Strategy and Execution

• Establish category management objectives, strategies, and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets aligned with CN's business plan
• Lead spend analysis, category segmentation, and opportunity identification
• Oversee demand planning and forecasting for assigned categories
• Lead cross-functional teams in the development and execution of category strategies
• Adjust external market factors and integrate plans across related categories

Negotiation and Contract Management

• Drive negotiations for medium- to high-complexity contracts within signing authority
• Establish contract management principles, compliance practices, and governance frameworks
• Ensure effective management of the contractual lifecycle from award to close-out
• Develop business cases for executive commitment and investment decisions

Supplier Portfolio Management

• Monitor supplier performance and manage key relationships within the category
• Establish supplier performance frameworks and conduct regular business reviews
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through proactive supplier management
• Drive supplier development initiatives to improve quality, delivery, innovation, and sustainability performance

Stakeholder Engagement

• Demonstrate thorough understanding of issues and their impacts; propose and evaluate solutions while highlighting implications of not reaching agreements
• Explain interdependencies between procurement decisions and broader business outcomes
• Influence others by communicating strong rationale and build trust with stakeholders to achieve maximum value in negotiations

Team Leadership and Development

• Directly supervise and develop a team of Procurement Specialists and Senior Specialists
• Support talent development and execute talent management plans
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to drive team growth
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture aligned with CN values

Compliance and Risk Management

• Evaluate and quantify risk impacts across the category portfolio and articulate and present risks to business partners with proposed mitigation measures
• Ensure all procurement policies are followed within the team and provide consultation and guidance to team members and stakeholders
• Perform root cause analysis on compliance failures and implement corrective actions

Data, Digital and AI Excellence

• Define methods and guidelines for using procurement technologies within the team and conduct advanced analysis using all relevant data sources
• Keep up with market developments in procurement technology, analytics, and AI applications and identify opportunities to deploy AI-enabled solutions
• Strive for optimal organizational efficiency, improve business processes, and recommend holistic changes to ways of working

Project and Process Management

• Integrate project plans across multiple concurrent projects and identify areas of synergy or dependency
• Evaluate progress and adjust for external factors affecting timelines or scope
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of interdependencies across functions, anticipate risks, and influence outcomes through effective stakeholder management

Working Conditions

The role has standard